Fall For Your Lake

Until this year, Fall always meant summer, freedom, making money and beach days were a thing of the past and snow was coming. Going back to school meant I had to observe Fall through the window. Now, I have the ability to get out and enjoy Fall without the cumbersome backpack full of homework.

We just took a trip through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and had blast taking in all the views! We began filming some new promo videos while meeting new people along the trail. We swapped stories sitting around campfires and took naps in hammocks with some of the best views in the world…

Fall no longer means a return to the mundane, but a gateway to new adventures. Stay tuned for our new videos and check out our new website!

-Kylen

www.mygreatlake.net

An overlook from our hike through Pictured Rocks.

Lake Michigan – Take #2 Tuesday – Wednesday (Post 2 of 2)

Another interesting Alarm Clock awoke us on tuesday. There were about 20 geese right outside of our tent, and that is a tough thing to sleep through. We made the trek from Manitowac to Cheboygan and stopped at Paradigm Coffee. This place is legit. It is a coffeehouse/bike shop/concert hall all in one. It served a great cup of Joe as well. We then stopped at EOS Surf Shop also in Cheboygan, but we had to chase the owner down at his other shop – Revolution Skate Shop. We left some shirts there for him, and then made our way to Milwaukee to make a stop at Laacke & Joys right on the water. We were staying the night in Milwaukee and had a few hours to spare, so we were told to do a Brewery Tour at Lakefront Brewery. It was well worth it. We then headed downtown to Chris Ray’s (another friend of ours from hope) apartment, which was right downtown. He had the idea of doing $1 burgers at Bar Louis, and we could not turn that down. We then walked downtown a bit, with a very informational tour guide who knew everything about downtown… or maybe he didn’t.

Wednesday morning we fueled up both with unleaded, as well as a nice cup of coffee from Cedarburg Coffee and Roastery in the Milwaukee Market. We had been looking for a few spots in Chicago but decided that it might be a good idea to avoid the traffic, and head back to the Mitten. We stopped at Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo and talked with Ryan, the shop owner, for a bit. We decided we needed to find lunch before the drive back home, and we saw David’s Delicatessen and stopped in. Turned out to be one of our favorite spots to eat, and one of the best cups of coffee from the whole trip. (we also left them some Boxed Water! http://www.boxedwaterisbetter.com). One last stop to our friends down at Landsharks in Saugatuck, and then it was time to head back to the My Great Lake HQ, and unload the mess that had created itself in the back of the van.

Overall is was an amazing trip. We met some more awesome people, saw a few more beautiful places, but most importantly got to spend a week traveling along the coast of OUR Great Lake!

Rock towers everywhere. Very cool sight.

Paradigm. Hike. Beach. Forest. Beauty.

Great Coffee, Sandwiches, and People.

Lake Michigan – Take #2 Saturday- Monday (Post 1 of 2)

After another crazy successful trip around one of our Great Lakes, the team is exhausted but yet very happy. Nevertheless, we felt that need to inform you of some of the stories we had along the way.

We left early Saturday Morning last weekend with the intention of stopping in at Grand Haven. The Coast Guard fest traffi thought otherwise, so we then headed to 108 Threads in Ludington and Pentwater. After a stop in Pentwater for Ice and Arnold Palmers, we headed to Manistee… or past Manistee, since both Kylen and I missed the turn. Turned out to be a good thing though because as we were trying to make our way back to M-22 we found a little store in Onekama called MacBeth and stopped in. After leaving some shirts there (and buying some candy of course) we stopped at Crystal Lake Adventure Sports in Beulah. Beach Nut Surf Shop was next on the list to drop of some stickers, as well as ride those monster longboards! We made our last stop at Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak in Empire, MI to say hi to Bearyl and her crew. We ended up staying in Traverse City, meeting up for dinner with Josh Myaard (one of my friends from high school) at the Blue Tractor, and slept at the house of Larry and Nancy (the shop owners at Beach Nut)!

An early morning came fast, but Northern Roasters helped with that. Their sign said closed, but the workers were nice enough to still get us some much needed coffee. We then hopped on the road to Petoskey for a few stops there, as well as a meeting with Jason Muller (a friend from the Hope Soccer Team). On the last trip around we were told that we needed to go to Mackinac Island, but we were not able to. We made it happen this time! Willow, a friend from the Superior trip, actually works for the Arnold Ferry Line, and got us 2 free tickets! Mackinac Island was a blast. Stopping in at Mackinac Outfitters, biking around the Island, getting a little lost. All in a days work. When we got back to the mainland we headed to our night camping destination in Escanaba. In the moonlight. Obviously. We met Chuck, Johnny, and Tony next to our campsite. They were 3 biker dudes headed down to Sturgis, and they were awesome.

Monday morning hit, as the bikers left us a few nice presents (a realtor for sale sign?) and some engine rev’s right outside our tent. It was an interesting alarm clock, but it worked none the less. Downtown Escanaba at Mr. Bike was our first stop. We then headed to Wind Rose North in Menominee, MI. We then headed up and into Door County to the Bay Shore Outfitters in Sturgeon Bay, and Sister Bay. Lunch at Kimz Galley Cafe was a great place to fuel up. We then stopped at Cave Point in Sturgeon Bay, before meeting Mike who was willing to let us sleep on his lawn next to his boat slip! It was another crazy day.

Larry’s Shop in Traverse City.

Bearyl’s Shop and Kylen smirkin’.

A few photos from the trip to the Island.

10 year olds going on 40, fishing on the Pier.